Weekly report: the ice surface recovers quickly and gives Weissensee regulars confidence
The ice on the Weissensee is in excellent shape. The way it got there gives recreational skaters confidence. In Austria there is a variation on the saying about not crossing ice after a single night's frost.
- We wind back to last Monday. It starts to rain on the Weissensee. The thaw sets in. And then the skating really does stop for a while.
- “After yesterday's rain and, unfortunately, a little snow, the ice has been temporarily closed”, says Bernhard Jank Tuesday on natureislauf.at. “Where possible the tracks will be laid out again. It remains to be seen how well that goes and how hard the surface is. Patience, please.”
- Wednesday everything suddenly looks completely different. “After a night that was finally cold, the prepared ice has been opened again”, Jank says. “The track has been planed and laid out as well as possible once more. The entrances are all on the south side, as usual.”
- Op Thursday it is pure pleasure on the Weissensee. And, “For the coming weekend the conditions on the ice are excellent.” Even so, the ice team member watches the further forecasts with a wary eye. “The outlook for next week is not good, but who knows how the weather will turn out. We shall see.”
Not after one night of ice, but after one night of frost
Anywhere in the world you should not cross ice after a single night's frost. In other words, wait until the ice is thick enough. But once it is thick enough, other wisdom applies on the Weissensee.
Thanks to the magical microclimate there is often a very cold layer of air just above the Weissensee. Which means a single night of frost can bring the ice back to top condition.
So you do not have to despair the moment it rains and thaws. This week proves it once again: you cannot go after one night of ice, but you can after one night of frost.
The quick recovery of the ice gives Weissensee regulars confidence. A great deal is possible in a few hours of darkness.
The microclimate explained
Clothing tips
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Magical ice between the mountains. Oases that are a feast for the eyes under the sun. Team dionvacation is made up of recreational skaters and sun lovers, people who savour life. We share that zest for life from the Weissensee all the way to the Catalan coast. The holiday home ‘Vida Daurada’ (the golden life) suits that lifestyle, between mountains and sea. All articles are written by our own travel editors. Vida Daurada sponsors the Sun destination section.